Reversible electrophysiological abnormalities in hypokalemic paralysis: Case report of two cases

Abstract

Compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude declines during a paralytic attack in patients with hypokalemic periodic paralysis (HPP). However, serial motor nerve conduction studies in hypokalemic paralysis have not been commonly reported. We report two cases with hypokalemic paralysis, who had severely reduced CMAPs in all motor nerves at presentation during the episode of quadriparesis. However, the amplitude of CMAPs increased and reached normal levels, as the serum potassium concentration and motor power returned to normal state.

Keywords

• Compound muscle action potential
• electrophysiology
• hypokalemic periodic paralysis
• motor conduction abnormalities